Better Broadband Better Lives

AUSTIN, Texas, April 8, 2014 - It makes sense for communities and local government to build fiber networks to manage their communications need, said Joanne Hovis, President of CTC Communications, at the Broadband Communities Conference here.

Using a simple analysis of the costs to deploy T-1 communications networks versus fiber networks, Hovis showed how Montgomery County schools paid $3,600 per megabit per second (Mbps) annually to receive service at 1.54 Mbps. These costs were lowered to $1,800 per Mbps through eRate funds.

But, when calculating the costs of building a fiber network in the county, schools were able to receive 100 Mbps service at a cost of $70 per Mbps, she said. "Think about these kinds of strategies as you think about your fiber strategy," Hovis said, at a session on "building the economic case for fiber broadband."

Drew Clark is the Editor and Publisher of BroadbandBreakfast.com and President of the Rural Telecommunications Congress. He is an attorney who works with cities, communities and companies to promote the benefits of internet connectivity. The articles and posts on BroadbandBreakfast.com and affiliated social media, including the BroadbandCensus Twitter feed are not legal advice or legal services, do not constitute the creation of an attorney-client privilege, and represent the views of their respective authors.